give sb a break

  • 31give way — verb 1. move in order to make room for someone for something (Freq. 7) The park gave way to a supermarket Move over, he told the crowd • Syn: ↑move over, ↑give, ↑ease up, ↑yield • …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 32break — break1 [ breık ] (past tense broke [ brouk ] ; past participle broken [ broukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 separate into pieces ▸ 2 fail to obey rules ▸ 3 make a hole/cut ▸ 4 destroy someone s confidence ▸ 5 when people learn news ▸ 6 stop for a short time …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 33break — I. verb (broke; broken; breaking) Etymology: Middle English breken, from Old English brecan; akin to Old High German brehhan to break, Latin frangere Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to separate into parts with suddenness or… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 34break with sb/sth phrasal — verb (T) 1 to leave a group of people or an organization, especially because you have had a disagreement with them: break with sb/sth over sth: Powell broke with the Conservative Party over Europe. 2 break with tradition/the past to stop… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 35break*/*/*/ — [breɪk] (past tense broke [brəʊk] ; past participle broken [ˈbrəʊkən] ) verb I 1) [I/T] if something breaks, or if you break it, it separates into two or more pieces when it is hit, dropped etc I broke two dishes this morning.[/ex] Joey broke… …

    Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • 36break — I n. dash 1) to make a break (for safety) escape 2) a mass; prison break interruption 3) to make a break 4) a break in, with (a break in the conversation; to make a break with tradition) rest 5) to have (esp. BE), take a break 6) a coffee; news;… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 37break — [[t]bre͟ɪk[/t]] ♦ breaks, breaking, broke, broken 1) V ERG When an object breaks or when you break it, it suddenly separates into two or more pieces, often because it has been hit or dropped. [V n] He fell through the window, breaking the glass …

    English dictionary

  • 38break */*/*/ — I UK [breɪk] / US verb Word forms break : present tense I/you/we/they break he/she/it breaks present participle breaking past tense broke UK [brəʊk] / US [broʊk] past participle broken UK [ˈbrəʊkən] / US [ˈbroʊkən] 1) [transitive] to make… …

    English dictionary

  • 39break — [[t]breɪk[/t]] v. broke, bro•ken, break•ing, n. 1) to smash, split, or divide into parts violently 2) to disable or destroy by or as if by shattering or crushing: I broke my watch[/ex] 3) to violate or disregard (a law, promise, etc.) 4) to… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 40break — See: COFFEE BREAK …

    Dictionary of American idioms